Sixth Day of Christmas

This is the sixth day of Christmas, and time to wrap things up for this old year! Today we are packing for a train trip to visit family, so I will push myself to Get Things Done, so I can enjoy a few days of total relaxation.

This morning I will begin to bring thoughts of the New Year into focus. It's an introspective time- standing at the door of the year, looking backward and forward. It's my habit to reflect on the past and also to ponder the year ahead- consider my true purpose and envision hopes for myself and my world.

Agenda Today:

1. Kwanzaa principle

2

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Light a candle for peace and equanimity

3. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

4. Soyal retreat practices for equanimity

5. Equanimity brainstorm

6. Pick a theme for the new year

1. Kwanzaa principle:

The fifth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of nia (NEE-ah), which is purpose. Purpose allows me to dream of the best future, to look within and set personal goals that are beneficial to me, my family, and my community.

2

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Light a candle for peace and equanimity:

At Soyal, I review the Divine Laws, as I see them, meditate and write about my priorities, and make plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits. 

Today I am giving attention to my testimonies of peace and equanimity: 

F

ind inner peace; 

maintain a calm, composed emotional response to all situations

, patient with people and problems, not obsessed with any thought, and not acting with aggression or anger.

Equanimity is an expression of love: It’s the serenity we exhibit when we have to wait, and also the kindness we show to those “difficult people” who don’t listen to reason, who interrupt, who are overly sensitive, or who are so annoying. Equanimity allows us to let go of frustration and irritation, and treat those people with skill and gentleness. It allows us to counter disrespect and contempt with compassion, and to remember that human needs are not always logical, but are always more important than our schedule.

Today I light a white candle for peace, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.

3. Read "Present Moment Awareness":

I'm reading this book by Shannon Duncan (2001) that takes awareness one step at a time: First, body and senses; then beliefs and limitations; then emotions; and finally, reactivity. It seems like a straightforward plan!

I'm into the final section: Reactivity Roller Coaster. She talks about our false selves, how we pretend to be what we perceive we need to be in order to get our needs met (like being perfectly responsible in order to get the respect that my father didn't give me.) We use these false selves as shields of protection, and if a false self shield fails to protect us then we will either react or go into a depression.

Consider where I get a sense of identity and self-worth, the things that are a basis for self-value: My writing, my children, my analytical abilities and organizational skills, etc. When these are gone, who am I?

"New choices and opportunities come from recognizing how we use the many subtle forms of our reactivity, dramas, and false selves to protect ourselves from old and painful emotional baggage."

4. Soyal retreat practices for equanimity:

This Christmas I am using the Soyal Way of Being as a guide for my days; that is, I'm keeping Mother Earth in my thoughts as I move quietly and respectfully about my days, in order to establish the right mood for the coming year, and reach a unity of everything in the universe. Each day I will fit in some reading and writing, some focused walking, and some order-creation. At the end of the day I will brainstorm some goals and resolutions for 2026, based on guidance from God.

My practices today are:

1. Reorder food in the refrigerator. 
2. Waltz Walk in the neighborhood (using the mantra Guide-ing-Light), and use movement and mindfulness to connect to creative energy and my guiding light.
3. Grub just a bit to gently connect to Mother Nature.

5. Equanimity brainstorm:

Equanimity is an elusive quality that I have worked towards for years. This fall I have begun to feel like I am close to grasping it - like I can feel a shift in my overall mood and level of calmness.

I'm going to continue to bring attention to equanimity in these ways:

1. Practice a Formula for Calm when I am triggered: Notice the building tightness of trying to protect myself; take a breath and shift my perspective to spectator, to see the bigger picture; let the emotions flow through me without outward reaction - like a river I'm watching flow through me rather than trying to dam it up with body tension.
2. Observe my thoughts in the moment, and how they influence my mood and my equanimity. Analyze the cause and effect of my feelings: "I'm feeling very impatient now; more than the situation merits ... do I need to eat something perhaps? or take a little quiet time alone?"
3. Make a checklist for self-regulation that includes food, water, breathing, time alone, and other factors that account for mental overwhelm. Consider how I practice the habits of intentionality, flexibility, and patience. 
4. Question my narrative: Whenever I notice that I'm hooked by a thought that is affecting my equanimity I will pause, invite skepticism, and ask: 
   Is this really true? Am I sure? 
   How else could I interpret it? How can I expand my thinking? 
   What additional information could I seek? 
   Asking questions creates space for reflection and productive possibility. 
5. Nurture active listening skills, to understand people clearly and honestly, and try to analyze the Needs below the actions. 
6. Build self-awareness with a trigger journal, and re-write some old sound tracks: Choose new thoughts to play in my mind, and write a 
   New Narrative for the Week, reframing my perspective so that it I can I shift my mood from anxiety, frustration, impatience, and self-defense.

6. Pick a theme for the new year:

The theme that has been throwing itself at me all fall is Creative Perspective: 

Creative perspective: To keep a positive and broad perspective; shift my perspective to help myself find equanimity, and also expand my perspective (think outside the box), having the courage to take experimental risks and express myself honestly with words and art.